Stage Collapses in Ottawa During Cheap Trick's Set

Cheap Trick Just Averts Diaster From Freak Storm, Proving That Sometimes You Do Need A Weatherman To See Which Way the Winds Blow

As if rock 'n'
roll wasn’t dangerous enough, the members of Cheap Trick escaped serious
injury last night when their stage collapsed at the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest. Four
people were injured, including the band’s truck driver. According to witnesses,
a sudden violent squall arose out of nowhere causing the main stage to topple under them. According to the Ottawa Citizen, “tornado-force" winds seemed to appear out of the
blue, along with large ominous clouds, causing the iconic band to leave the
stage.

But by that point Cheap Trick had already left the stage because they'd seen a
large group of black clouds coming into the area, according to CBC News.

"A giant gust of wind picked up a tarp and garbage from across the field
and flung it towards the audience and lifted the whole stage — where Cheap
Trick had been playing — and almost like a convertible in a car, just folded it
backwards in the same direction," CBC's Stuart Mills said.

According
to Cheap Trick’s website: “Severe weather hit the stage as Cheap Trick was
performing at the Ottawa Bluesfest tonight. The stage blew down and collapsed.
Everyone is shaken up but band and crew are all fine. Cheap Trick hopes that
everyone who attended the show is also okay. Robin says ‘Fortunately the band and
crew are all lucky to be alive and we’ll see you down the road. And all the
best to our truck driver Sandy.’"

The
band’s manager, Dave Frey explained to a reporter at CNN that “one of our drivers will spend the night in the hospital, and
though we’re not sure how, Cheap Trick are grateful and happy to say that
everyone, including all the concert goers, are okay.”

After the stage
collapsed, thousands of fans were made to evacuate from LeBreton Flats, the
festival site, and the rest of the bands were canceled, including performances
by Joe Satriani and Death Cab for Cutie. Death Cab’s Ben Gibbard tweeted, “We are all okay. Band,
crew, and drivers,” then “It was
a miracle no one was killed today when the stage collapsed. Gear can be
replaced, people can’t.” Two hours
later he promised: “We will return to Ottawa and play a proper show as soon as our schedule
permits.”

Jaan Uhelszki was one of the founding editors at Detroit’s legendary Creem magazine. Since that time, her work has appeared in USA Today, Uncut, Rolling Stone, Spin, NME, Relix, and Guitar World. She is the only journalist to have ever performed in full makeup with Kiss. Luckily she only had to put…